REPORT: Ford Police Interceptor to go FWD or AWD?

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Ford, Police/Emergency



It's hard to turn away as loyal customer base as Ford has for its Police Interceptors, but the writing is on the wall for the Ford Crown Victoria, and has been for some time. The full-size sedan is based on Jurassic-era technology, and as of last year, it was taken off the consumer market and is available essentially only by fleet purchase for police, taxis and such. But even those are reportedly slated to be discontinued by 2011 (as are the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car). With the Crown Vic still worth 65,000 units annually, Ford isn't keen to leave the segment to the competition.

At the Detroit Auto Show two years ago, Ford showed the Interceptor concept, but sources suggest that it was never meant for production. And with the cancellation of the Blue Oval's rear-wheel-drive platform, Ford is reportedly looking at front- and all-wheel drive options over the long term. Could that include the new Taurus? Possibly, but so far Ford's not saying, and besides, that would conflict with the Blue Oval's new "flagship" messaging for the sedan.

For his part, Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of marketing and communications, says that he envisions a move from "the legacy products" to all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive unibodies over the long haul, and perhaps unibody rear-drive crossovers as an interim solution.

We'll be watching - engines running and sirens blaring - to see what Dearborn has up their sleeves.

[Source:Automotive News, sub. req'd]REPORT: Ford Police Interceptor to go FWD or AWD? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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just keep the cop cars the same...its not that hard

 

All of the local police departments in my area, as well as the Georgia State Patrol are rapidly retiring Crown Vic's in favor of Dodge Chargers. If Police departments wanted more of the same, I guess new Crown Vic's would be replacing the old ones, but they aren't. So I guess it's not that easy. It's actually getting pretty rare to see a Crown Vic cop car around here anymore. A couple of years ago, they were everywhere.

The Crown Vic is still on the same, virtually unchanged Panther platform that has been in production for 30 years! It's time for something new.

 

If it doesn't cost that much I am thinking a 4-door vairant of a Mustang would cut the trick.

 

i like the charger idea though lol

 

hmmm i wonder if there will even be chargers, soon. Part of the problem with front drivers is that they are fragile,compared to rear wheel drives that's why gm didn't selll many fleet impalas after the big caprice died,

 

There are a TON of FWD Impala cop cars around here. There are even a few of the 2000-2006 body style Tauruses with the 24V engine as cop cars around here.. I'll bet those will be super rare some day.

 

well considering they weigh in about a ton and a half that makes about 1 1/2 cop cars then huh LOLOLOLO I crack me up !

 

So funny I almost forgot to laugh!

Jeez, we're terrible.

 

I know you are but what am I... he he Jamie you're good man man, thanks for the good sence of humor!

 

I want to know why everyone likes to beat up on the Crown Vic. So what if the design is old? The reason it got this old is because it is a GOOD design. Cops beat the crap out of their cars and they need something that will hold up under the abuse. These newer unibody cars just cannot take the beating that the body-on-frame cars will. I was reading an article that was saying that the newer cars were cheaper than the full sized Fords, and were better on gas, making them more appealing to the municipalities that buy them. Funny, it also said that the the repair bills were higher and that they didn't last as long. Where is the savings? The Crown Vics are a tested design and will last many years with proper maintenance. I don't see the need to change just for the sake of change. American auto makers should be building more cars like the Crown Vic instead of the throw-away cars they are expecting us to buy.

 

We have a Charger cop car that we service. Its off the Indian reserve police force. This thing gets the crap kicked out of it. It goes airborne on a regular basis. If these guys cant kill it no one can. We are amazed its still going.

 

I wasn't beating up on it at all. I've seen Crown Vic's Police Interceptors in the junkyard with over 700,000 miles on the clock, with 350,000+ being very common in these parts. The mileage proves in itself how good of a design the car is, to stand up to that many miles of police and later taxi use. In fact, it is very uncommon to see ANY other type of vehicle, foreign or domestic, in the junkyard with the kind of mileage you see on Crown Vic's on a regular basis in there.

I'm simply stating my observations of what the trends seem to be with Police in Georgia lately. As long as Ford is building enough of them to make it worth while, build the same car for another 30 years for all I care. 65,000 units a year is probably extremely good for a car that is now only sold as a fleet and police vehicle. At some point you have to believe that number is going to drop to a point where it's no longer worth their while to build them, though.

 

I was in vegas with the wife a couple years back, we flew and took taxis everywhere. I got to think as I was talking to one of the cabbies hmm let me ask a guy who drives all day long everyday in extreme heat and cold nights? "What is the best car for dependability for a taxi? Answer " 1st I'd say the Crown Vic or the Chevy Caprice, but they don't make those anymore". He went on to say, The Crown Vic just goes and goes and goes, oh around 150 to 200k you;ll replace a fan motor and on the Chevy you'll be rebuilding the tranny, but other than that those are the cars I'd drive. " Hmm at first I thought that's not very good to replace a fan motor that soon then I remembered this is Vegas Air or heat going all the time hot in the day chilly at night. Another thing to note, I did see some windstar vans running around there too! Didn't see any Toyota's or other Japanese cars

 

TRATOR!!! AH!!!!joking